American Nomadic

This section introduces the basic themes, structure, and argument of the book. The book will be a comprehensive study of Werner Herzog’s cinematic work, organized chronologically. Critical attention is paid to two major aspects of this work. First, the political dimensions of Herzog’s films, what they are and how they work. Second, his films’ relation to the idea of America. Detailed attention will be paid to the dialectical relationship between Herzog’s films and their historical context (both of production and representation). In a nutshell, the book asks, What are the aesthetics of the political in Herzog’s work? Each chapter will revolve around a major film: Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972); Stroszek (1972); Fitzcarraldo (1982); and Cobra Verde (1987).